1 Zurich Herbert Thring Esq., Dear Sir, My attention hase been drawn to a letter recently written
by your society to Mr. Curti, Silicitor, of Zurich. As the
partner of Mr. Sykes I should like to bring a few facts to your
notice. Mr. Sykes and I founded the English Players cocmpany in
Zurich in April 1918 for the production of plays in the English
language. The company produced plays in English in spite of
difficulty, boycott and financial loss, and was the only enterprise
of the kind in Switzerland during the war. It was impossible for
Mr. Sykes to obtain in some cases the consent of the dramatists
owing to the postal delays, consorship and frequent and prolonged
closure of frontiers, although every effort was made to avoid what
might have seemed an infringement of literary courtesy. Mr.
Sykes was in direct communication with Mr. Edward Martyn, who
gave him permission to produce The Heather Field, with Mr. Meyer,
agent of the late Stanley Houghton, who gave him permission to
produce Hindle Wakes, and with Mr. Robert Ross (deceased) and Mr.
Samuel French with regard to the production of Wilde's The
Importance of Being Earnest. He has asked Mr. Curti therefore to
let him know the names of the authors qwho are claiming fees. The
questionn of the production on the Continent of Europe of plays in
the English language seems, moreover, to be an exceptional case
not foreseen in the clauses of the Berne convention. Mr. Sykes
was legally advised on this subject at the outset that such
produtions were free. The aims and achievements of the company are such, I
believe, as will be approved of by members of your Society,
and, owing to Mr. Sykes' energy and persistance, the prospects
financially and artistically are now much brighter. My name as a writer will perhaps not be unknown to you,
and I am indebted to your Society for generous and timely aid in
the past. I trust that the proposal with Mr. Curti is forwarding
you on our behalf with meet witho your approval and put an end to
any misunderstanding which ay have arisen. I am, dear Sir,
Sincerely Yours
James Joyce. 21.9.19.